Tow coupling



July 27, 1954 H. B. DYER TOW COUPLING Filed Jan. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

. H. B. DYER ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1954 ram OFFICE TOW COUPLING Harry B. Dyer, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to Nashville Bridge Company, Nashville, Tenn., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,155

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to marine transportation and more particularly to that form of marine transportation in which vessels are supplied with auxiliary or additional propulsion means.

In inland waterway shipping, tows are employed which consist of a propulsion vessel and a cargo carrying vessel or vessels. In many rivers, more particularly in the south, where tows are employed, it has been the custom to lash together in two or three columns, the cargo carrying vessels or barges to be transported. The propulsion vessel is usually of the pusher type and of the same general configuration as the barge. In a tow of this type where there are more than one.

column of barges, the selection and placement of the barges in the tow must be critical in that some of the vessels may have a different displacement than others due to the type or amount of cargo carried as well as the nature, size and character, thereby forming an uneven general deck level throughout the tow making it very difficult to lash the barges together.

When a tow of this general description arrives at a lock in a waterway the tow must be broken up into one or two units, only one column wide,.

to allow the entry of the units through the look. This is a long and tedious operation in that the barges have been carefully and laboriously lashed together. The operation of cutting out or separating the barges into these single or double units is a long and costly one.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby barges or other vessels may be attached together or detached from a tow quickly and efiiciently, using a minimum of labor yet affording a positive foolproof lashing means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leveling means so that regardless of the displacement of a vessel to be placed in a tow this leveling means will adjust by a simple mechanism, the level of the deck of the tow to form a continuous and unbroken surface, thereby aiiording easy access of one barge to another, making the lashing operation easier and saving time in the assembly or disassembly of the same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompany-. ing drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial top plan View of the decks of two adjoining barges illustrating the proposed method of lashing;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the background omitted for greater clarity;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the aligning device as shown in Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the ratchet, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of barges l and l l are connected together in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of bringing the decks of the barges to the same level prior to lashing of the barges together in the tow. A leveling device I2 is provided which consists of a tripod l3 mounted on the deck l5 of the barge ll.

' The two shorter legs M of the tripod are pivotally mounted on the deck by means of brackets l6 secured to the deck and pins l'l passing through the brackets and the lower extremities of the legs. A third and longer leg l8 has an extremity pivotally attached to the barge and spaced from the side thereof by bracket l9 and pin 20. The other ends of the three leg members are connected by a pin 2|.

Attached to the deck 22 of the barge i0 is a force multiplying device 23 commonly known as a steamboat ratchet and which is constructed and functions similarly to a turnbuckle. The device consists of a central body portion 24 having internal oppositely threaded end portions 25 and 26. End bolts 21 and 28 are adapted to be received by the internally threaded portions and the latter is connected by a pin 29 to a U-bolt 30, which is pivotally secured by pin 3| to a bracket 32 attached to the deck of the barge near its edge. The end bolt 21 has an ear 21 which is adapted to receive the pin 2| passing through the ends of the tripod legs l4 an I8 which comprise the apex of the tripod.

A bracket 33 is attached to the deck 22 of the barge In in the same relative position as the bracket is, in order that the tripod and force multiplying members may be used interchangeably on the various barges.

The lengths of the various legs l4 and I8 of the tripod and the relative position of the brackets securing their extremities is such that the apex l3 extends away from the plane of the side of the barge so that when another barge is adjacent, the apex extends over its deck. The bracket 32 carrying the lower portion of the member 23 is positioned on the barge l0 near its edge and such that it is substantially under the apex of the tripod when the barges are close together.

In the use of the leveling device, the barges are maneuvered so that the sides or. ends of the barges which it is desired to join, are close t0- 'rocate in a housing--46 received in the end of the the force exertedby the-spring nthe locking ',pin 36.

gether and that the barges are positioned with the tripod and force multiplying members substantially opposite each other. The member 23 is then engaged with the apex l3 of the tripod by means of the pin 2| which passes through the apex and the tripod. It is understood, of course, that the overall length of the member 23 may have to be shortened or extended by rotating the body member relative to the end bolts 2'! and 28. After engagement of the member with the tripod, the decks of the two barges may be brought to the same level by the operation of the member. This may be readily accomplished .by a handle 34 which is adapted to be received in -a recess 35 in the member 24.

For maintaining the vessels at the same level and in about the same relative positions, a plunger or locking pin 36 is supported in the-end of one of the vesselsdfl and is adapted to be received by a recess or .socket.31 which occupies a corresponding position in the endof the other craft II. The craft are provided with rub rails -38 and 39 for protecting"themfifromdamage caused by contact with another barge or the like.

The rubrails of the barges are provided with apertures '40 and for'receivingthe plunger and the socket.

The locking pin consists of an elongated member having a substantially cylindrical'body por tion 42, a fiangedbase or bearingplate43, and i an end or head portion. The head portion has a curved or substantially spherical extremity 44 "of a lesser diameter than that of the body 42.

The spherical portion is'joinedto the body portion by tapering sides of substantially frustoconical configuration. A tap screw-t is received by an aperture in the base of the locking pin to secure the bearing plate 43 thereto.

.The pin is positioned by and adapted to recipbarge. The housing hasa-substantially-cylindrical portion 41, an internally threaded end socket 4.8 at one end, and a flanged portion 49 at theother end. The housing'is'provided with 'oil through tube 46 carrying '-oil"-to grooves'41' ,on the interior of theplunger housingwe. The thickness of the flangedportion'is-equal to that of the rub rail so thatthe flange and the rub rail are substantially flush. 'The flange is I secured to the rub rail bya suitable weld 50.

A cylindrical spring housing I 5| has an end received by the threaded end- 48- of the plunger housing and has an end plate 52 at its'other end "with-an axial built up portion' -53, the end plate and built up portion being provided with an internal thread. A screw54isin engagement with the thread and one end thereofis a'dapted to engage a keeper plate"55 between which and the bearing plate 43,: ahelical spring 56ispo'sitioned in the housing5l. '=The-screw -54 is:.pro

vided with a head 51' by:' meansofwhich a tool may be employed to turn the screw. It is'apparent that by rotation oftheuscrew, theikeeper plate 55 may be positioned inorderto regulate The housing 5| of the spring is "adapted to flow pipe 59 is attached. The overflow lpi'pe may be connected to a suitable reservoir, not shown.

For receiving the head of -.the looking-pinin -the end of the adjacentzbarge, asocket-tfleisprovided which includes a concave dome 6| having tbarge.

a flange 52 of substantially the same thickness as the rub rail of the barge. The socket is positioned in the aperture ll of the rub rail and secured by a suitable weld 83. The configuration of the internal surface of the socket is similar to that or the external surface of the pin head it. It includes. a substantially spherical end portion and converging side portions.

In operation, the craft are maneuvered into :position and brought to the same level by the leveling procedure set forth above. When the same level of the two craft is reached, assuming that they have been placed in the correct end to end. relationship, the pin 36 will be able to enter thesocket 31.

By reason of the design of the pin and socket, relative motion between the two craft which may occur for various reasons such as wave action and the like, does not produce concentrated bending or other distortional stress in the pin and socket or the ends of the barges. Furthermore,

the design of the'two-facilitates entrance of the pin into the socket. In the event that the pin contacts the end of the other barge, its rounded end will minimize damage. Furthermore, the pin'may be retracted into the housing against the force of the spring 56 and the fluid within the housing, which can escape slowly through the 68 locked on the barges.

In order to save time, however, it is often desirable to provide temporary means for lashing the barges together so that they may be gotten underway without waiting for the more permanent lashing which-maybe completed enrcute. In order to'accomplish this, an auxiliary lashing means is provided which includes a winch "Hi which is fixed to the deck of the barge H. The .winch has a cable H wound around its drum 12 'which passes 'arounda fixedroller chock 743, by a wire rope chock l4, and then around a rope bitt 15 which is attached to the deck of the adjacent From the rope bitt I5, the cable passes by the rope chock' ifi to the rope bitt '57 over which it is looped. This lashing arrangement is effec- "tive and can be quickly applied and tightened by means of the winch. The'rope "bitt on the barge it] is positioned opposite the guiding chock T'i t' on the barge l l in order that by tightening the winch cable, the barges are positioned in the .correct end to end relationship and in substantial alignment. 'the cable as described, the barges are drawn into place as it is' tightened.

Inother words, by connecting In order to provide for-flexible control and "expedit the unwinding of the cable H from the drum, a quick release means is provided. From the drawings' it is apparent that the winch drum "I2 is adapted to be turnedsby a wheel'ied which is attached'to a shaft 8| passing through'a side 82 or the winch and which has'a ratchet 83 pcsitioned thereonbetween the side and the wheel. 'At'itsother extremity the shaft is supportedin ,the other side 84 of the'win'ch'and' has a gear 83 adapted to mesh with another gear86 which is "on the shaft 81 ofthe winch drum. For braking theunreeling ofthe winch, a relatively small gear "38 von'the shaft 8111s adaptedtomesn-with a largergear"85'on a' shaft (not shown) which is below the shaft 8!, and a conventional brake is adapted to be applied by a conventional foot lever (not shown) positioned outside of the side 82 of the winch.

For releasably locking the shaft 8| a tubular handle 91 has elongated flat iron side pieces 90 attached to its sides and is provided with apertures 9! for pivotally receiving the shaft 8|, the ratchet 83 being received between the ends of the side pieces. Pivotally attached by a pin 96 between the side pieces 9|] behind the ratchet 83 is a pawl 92 having a locking detent portion 93 and a stop engaging portion 94 which is adapted to engage or rest on a stop 95 attached to the side 82 of the winch.

In the operation of the device when there is tension on the cable H, th ratchet 83 tends to rotate counter-clockwise as viewed in the drawings, and in the position shown, the pawl 92 prevents such rotation. In order to release the pawl from engagement with the ratchet, it i merely necessary to rotate the handle 91 counter-clockwise (in the direction shown by the arrow) so that the stop 95 moves the pawl 92 counterclockwise around its pivot pin 96 and thus out of engagement with the ratchet. In order to engage the pawl with the ratchet, the handle 91 is raised until the portion 93 of the pawl has dropped down into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet.

In the operation of the device, the two barges, which it is desired to tie together, are maneuvered to a position close together, the temporary lashing applied, the decks leveled, and th pin and socket engaged. This can be carried out in a relatively short time and provides a satisfactory means for coupling the craft in order that they may get under Way shortly. After the craft have gotten underway, the permanent lashing may be secured and the temporary lashing released.

It is contemplated that after the decks of the vessels are level, the leveling device, consisting of the tripod and force multiplying members, will be disengaged in order that they not obstruct the deck. Furthermore, as the pin and socket remain engaged throughout the voyage, the leveling device is not required to maintain the vessels at the same level.

Often times, when a tow is to pass through a lock or other narrow waterway, it is necessary that the craft of which it is composed be rearranged in single columns or other desired ways. The time lost in rearranging craft in a tow when conventional means are used for securing the vessels together is usually very large. With this apparatus, however, the vessels may be moved through the lock or other short distance by the use of the temporary lashing arrangement, thus saving considerable time.

It will be apparent that the invention contemplates the provision of simple means for bringing adjacent craft to the same level, for coupling the craft by means of a simple pin and socket arrangement to maintain this level after the leveling device is disengaged, and for temporary means for lashing the craft together so that the tow may be gotten underway without delay.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for leveling and coupling waterborne craft, comprising a tripod mounted on one craft and having its apex over the other craft, a force multiplying device mounted on the other craft, means engaging the apex of the tripod with the force multiplying device, a socket mounted in the side of one craft, and a spring pressed plunger extending from the side of the other craft and adapted to enter the socket when the craft are on substantially the same level and in substantial alignment whereby adjacent craft may be'leveled and coupled in such level position.

2. The structure recited in claim 1, a housing in which the spring pressed plunger reciprocates,

and fluid within the housing to retard the inward movement of the plunger against the spring, the housing being provided with a restricted opening for the discharge of the fluid.

3. The structure recited in claim 1, the innermost portion of the surface of the socket bein rounded and having sides which converge outwardly from the rounded portion, and the plunger having a body connected to a substantially rounded end of less diameter than the body by converging sides, whereby entrance of the plunger into the socket is facilitated and the possibility of concentrated stress-es being setup due to rel-ative movement between the plunger and socket is minimized.

4. In a coupling for vessels in a tow, rub rails for the sides of the vessels, a locking pin for mounting in the side of one vessel and having a housing with a flanged portion adapted to be mounted in an aperture in the rub rail with its outer surface substantially flush therewith, and a socket for the pin for mounting in the side of the adjacent vessel, the socket comprising a shell and having a peripheral flange adapted to be received in an aperture in its rub rail, the outer surface of the flange and that of the rub rail being substantially flush, whereby the flanged portions are adapted to be protected from substantial contact with the side of the adjacent vessel. 1

5. The structure recited in claim 4, the flanges being attached to the surfaces defining the rub rail apertures by welding.

6'. The combination of a pair of vessels, means to connect said vessels to form a tow with the adjacent decks of the vessels at substantially the same height comprising rub rails mounted on each vessel at a location to contact when the vessels abut each other, a resiliently urged plunger mounted in one vessel at a predetermined distance from the deck thereof and normally projecting from the rub rail thereof, a socket having a plunger receiving opening at one end and mounted in the rub rail of the other vessel at substantially the same predetermined distance from the deck thereof, the plunger-receivingopening end of said socket being substantially flush with the rub rail so that the plunger may be guided into the socket when said vessels are brought into abutting relation.

7. In the combination according to claim 6 means lashing the vessels together thereby preventing separation thereof.

8. In the combination according to claim 6 in which lashings secure the vessels together preventing separation, said l-ashings include a first run extending diagonally from one vessel at an acute angle to the rub rail portions of the vessels and fixed to the other vessel, tightening means in said diagonal run; and a second run extending diagonally from the said other vessel to the said first vessel at an obtuse angle to the rub rail ease portions: of: SZId'NBSSlS and 'fixedetmthessaidi'first -vesse1, :--and "tightening g-means 1am z-said second "diagonal run.

9. In: a coupling fortvesselsimaitowsarplunger housing openaat one '-.end,zarplungerz mounted .in 1

sai d housing forcpltoj ecti'on :of iazportion'thereof fromxthe open3end1or completeienoasementcwithin :the housing, aspiring; for iurg n ssaid; plunger .to :its :projected nposition, :said housing 'r'being ;.mountab1e rso the iplungerzmayeextend: from the- EB :vided-swithzaasecket: fixed- ,to said other: vesse1-and .ahavingzaz.reeess:-of .--comp1emental shape to the cprojeetingaend .ef :the plungerwith the recess extending through the rubbing portion-of said .rothervesseLrsmeans to secure the vessels in abutpting :relatien isoathatsaidprojecting end of said zpltmgercmayeextendzinto said recess for prevent- .ing;relative:lateralmovernent of the vessels, a :triporl mounted -on one .ofsaid Vessels with the iaapex thereof aproiecting outwardlybeyond the :rubbingrportion ;of :thesaid one of said vessels .;and.;over tthezotherivessel, a .force multiplying devise having one; endsecured to. the apex of said :tidpod sand 3having Bits other end ,removably secured to the other of said :vessels, said force :muitiplying :deviee; being arranged "to .produce a :pushing iancixpullingeactionibetween the apex of said tripod and t the other-of said vessels for :arranging {the plunger in horizontal alignment x'ivhereby'jentrance:..of:.the; plunger int-o the-socket F20 -.With;th-erecess.

facilitated.

"l0. Thecombination .of.:a.pair of :vessel s :to :connect zsaid vessels to form'iaztow wwith the :adjacent decks :of the-vessels at: fixed; predetermined; heights :compris-i-ng .fixedmortionsof each -.vessel abutting ha :pcorrespon-ding portion of the other vessel; 1a: resiliently. biased plunger. mounted on said one vessel and projecting :putwardly Lthroughsaid. fixediport-ioni for-:abutting the fixed ;portion of ;the other-vesseLsaid fixed portion-:of the-other vesselhavingua plungersreeeiving.open- .ing for:snuglyreceiving-the; projecting end..of-.the 1.plunger,ss-aid:opening being:a-continuatiomof the .asurface .of said.fixed portion:..of; said .other vessel whereby the vessels -may;-be abutt-edwand asaid :aplungenmay be. insertedintoasaid .openingcby the resilient bias of. said plunger.

.11.. A system for fastening-two vessels together .in abutting relation comprising a. rubbing; portion ion :-each' .vessel adapted f to engage :th rubbing portion on the ad; acent vessel, 19 plunger/mounted .in one vessel for movement. throughsaid: rubbing portion and including a projecting end having a ;taperedrconfiguration, the:other:vessekbeingpro- :Ref-erencesiCitedin-the file of thispatent UNITED STATES ='PATENTS lNuinber Name "Date ZRe. .7374 "Hanley et a1 'Oot. 13, 1876 11291844 ..1V[cCreary July"23, 18'72 '.-23.0',1I3 ,Curran July 20, 1880 1238.,6'11 ZFriek 'Mar.'8, 1881 .425,I71 Gilmour Apr. 8, 1890 571,547 W'eeks 'Nov. 17, 1896 739,091 .Larr Sept. 15, 1903 820,914 LI-Iilpert May 23, 1906 1,084,915 iSteiner Jan. 20, 1914 1406502 .Baer Feb. 14, 1922 11,514,845 (Fischer Nov. V11, 1924 .l,520.,144-' .Sansom Dec. .23, 1924 2,126,843 Tinteraet. a1 Aug. 16, 1938 2,157,186 sPinten. Mayf 9, 1939 2219455 .-.Rhodes Oct. .29, 1940 2,282,481 ,lKennedy May .12, 1942 2,310,679 Martin-e111 .etal .Mar...6', 1945 -1 2,371,-622 Winters iI\/iar.,.20, 1945 Eulke... -May 25,1948 

